Klay Thompson doubles down on wanting to win out rest of the season

OAKLAND — The Warriors are saying one thing about the importance of having the Western Conference’s best record. Warriors guard Klay Thompson is saying another.

“We want that No. 1 seed,” Thompson said following morning shootaround on Tuesday. “We’re obviously paying attention to what Houston is doing. But we control our own destiny if we take care of business.”

The Warriors (49-14) enter Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets (20-44) at Oracle Arena with a five-game winning streak. But the Warriors are still 1/2 game behind the Rockets (49-13), which have reeled off 15 consecutive victories.

The Warriors have downplayed the importance of having home-court advantage over Houston even if the Rockets won two out of three regular-season matchups. Instead, the Warriors have reiterated they prioritize maximizing health and developing habits as more important than satisfying bottom-line results. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has also said he will not hesitate sitting players for minor ailments or for rest purposes.

Then again, the Warriors have a favorable schedule that could make Thompson’s goal achievable. Though the Warriors have stiff tests on a pair of back-to-backs this week in Portland (Friday) and Minnesota (Saturday), the Warriors have three more games against Phoenix (19-47), two more against Sacramento (20-44) and one more against Atlanta (20-44).

“I’m sure coach can rest guys, but we try to go 82-0,” Thompson said. “It’s really hard. But if I’m in a game and competing, I’m trying to win.”

The Western Conference have fielded plenty of teams that have tried to do the same thing.

The Portland Trail Blazers (38-26) are ranked third in the Western Conference, but they only have a 2 1/2 game lead over the Denver Nuggets (35-28), which has the eighth and final playoff spot. In between, New Orleans (36-26), San Antonio (37-27), Minnesota (38-28) and Oklahoma City (37-28) are jockeying for position. The Los Angeles Clippers (34-28), Utah Jazz (34-30) and Los Angeles Lakers (28-35) also have an outside chance to make the postseason.

“It makes for entertaining basketball. You see how hard teams are playing down the stretch, who wants it and who wants to go on vacation,” Thompson said. “I’m excited. There’s only a [two]-game difference between the third spot and eighth spot. That makes it for entertaining basketball down the stretch. As a fan, I’m excited.”

And as a basketball player, Thompson made it clear how he will approach the Warriors’ 19 remaining regular-season games.

“If you play every game, you’re trying to win,” Thompson said. “It doesn’t matter if we rest guys or not. With this team and the talent on this roster, we should be able to compete in very game and have a chance to win every game. I meant that.”